DOWNTOWN – CHINATOWN NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 13

REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2025, at 6:00 P.M.
Keʻelikōlani Middle School Library
1302 Queen Emma Street, Honolulu, HI 96813
AND VIA WEBEX

This meeting location is open to public participation.
Other available options including WebEx and phone-in instructions are as follows:

Meeting Link: https://cchnl.webex.com/cchnl/j.php?MTID=m2eec5eabd07f32af605be6e0c6aac97b
Meeting Number / Access Code: 2490 552 4947
Password: NB13 (6213 from phones and video systems)
Join by phone: +1(408) 418-9388 [United States toll]
Meeting Materials Link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1F4DdI9R8Er12TNf6Bl-yb4p4EW0-68vu
Video Recordings: http://www.youtube.com/@NeighborhoodCommissionOffice

Rules of the Agenda: The Chair prepares the agenda and includes agenda items based on the Chair’s discretion. Board members may make written request for the inclusion of a proposed agenda item to the Chair in advance of the agenda’s publication. Once published, proposals to change the agenda (e.g., proposed additions or changes in priority) should be made by written request to the Chair in advance of (and not during) the meeting.

Rules of the Meeting: The Presiding Officer (“PO”) is responsible for running the meeting to maintain order and efficiency. When the PO opens discussion for a listed agenda item, audience members are limited to (2) minutes and Board Members are limited to one (1) minute (with possible leeway or follow-ups granted based on the PO’s discretion). Requests for follow-ups should be made to the PO. For any proposed board actions not listed on the published agenda (i.e., proposed by a member during the meeting), the PO may or may not allow discussion/votes on such proposals based on the PO’s discretion and judgment. Further, the PO may call votes on any listed board actions or allowed proposals in the order the PO believes is most efficient for the agenda item and meeting (or may defer any item based on the PO’s discretion)

Rules of Presentations/Reports/Public Concerns: Presentation of materials is only permitted by individuals/organizations listed for the agenda item (or as otherwise allowed by the PO). Board members may not raise a matter during Public Concerns. Discussion on matters raised during Public Concern may or may not be allowed based on the PO’s discretion.

1. CALL TO ORDER
1.1 Roll Call

2. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS (including discussion on board/community inquiries; 5 minutes each)
2.1 Honolulu Fire Department
2.2 Honolulu Police Department

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (1 minute)
3.1 Board vote to approve NCO draft Regular Meeting Written Summary for Video Record (Tuesday, July 1, 2025)

4. PRESENTATIONS (including discussion on board/community inquiries; 10 minutes each)
4.1 City and County of Honolulu, Office of Housing: Current Homeless Situation in Downtown-Chinatown and the City’s Response. Mr. Miyahira will provide a status report on the homeless population in the Downtown-Chinatown area, including city services, shelter availability, and coordinated outreach efforts for Downtown-Chinatown and Oahu – Roy Miyahira [roy.miyahira@honolulu.gov]
4.2 Hawaii Children Youth Day (“CYD”): Plans for CYD 2025 which will involve temporary closure of Punchbowl Street (between King Street and Beretania Street) on Sunday, October 5, 2025, from 7am to 4pm – Allan Silva [coachallansilva@gmail.com]
4.3 Hawaii Bicycle League: Presentation on the “Walk Bike Drive: Safer Streets for All” initiative, emphasizing public safety, pedestrian/cyclist education, and community partnerships across urban Honolulu – Paula Bender [paula@hbl.org]

5. PUBLIC CONCERNS (2 minutes each regarding issues not listed on the agenda)

6. ELECTED OFFICIALS – Priority to be given to elected officials/representatives that are physically present at the meeting (including discussion on board/community inquiries; 5 minutes each)
6.1 Congressman Ed Case’s Representative
6.2 Governor Josh Green’s Representative – Stephen Downes [stephen.downes@doh.hawaii.gov]
6.3 Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s Representative – Ian Santee [isantee@honolulu.gov]
6.4 City Council (District 6) – Tyler Dos Santos-Tam [tdossantos-tam@honolulu.gov]
6.5 State Senate (District 13) – Karl Rhoads [senrhoads@capitol.hawaii.gov]
6.6 State House (District 25) – Kim Coco Iwamoto [repiwamoto@capitol.hawaii.gov]
6.7 State House (District 28) – Daniel Holt [repholt@capitol.hawaii.gov]

7. QUARTERLY REPORTS (including discussion on board/community inquiries; 3 minutes each)
7.1 Honolulu Authority Rapid Transit (“HART”): Update on rail progress (Downtown-Chinatown station status, budget development, and community impacts) – Harry Cho [harry.cho@honolulu.gov]
7.2 CBCA Report: Summary of ongoing business development, safety concerns, and community initiatives being coordinated through the CBCA – Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock [clskwock@gmail.com]

8. Board Business (including discussion on board/community inquiries; 5 minutes each)
8.1 Board vote on Resolution 2025-02 Urging City Officials to Support Community Events in Downtown-Chinatown (revisiting tenets from Resolution 2024-03 adopted during previous board term) – Board Member Ross Isokane
8.2 Board vote required under Neighborhood Plan §2-14-111(c) on whether to include an item on next month’s regular meeting agenda (September 2025): Board Member Kevin Lye’s written request via email (early-morning Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) leaf blowers in the downtown area near residential buildings)

9. CHAIR’S REPORT
9.1 Heads up on upcoming events
● Buddha Peace Festival-Chinatown Cultural Plaza on August 16, 2025, from 10am to 3pm
● Made in Hawai’i Festival-Hawai’i Convention Center from August 15 to 17, 2025. Friday from 10am to 8pm, Saturday from 9am to 8pm, and Sunday from 9am to 5pm
● Okinawan Festival- Hawai’i Convention Center from August 30 to 31, 2025 from 9am to 4pm

10. ANNOUNCEMENTS
10.1 The next Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board No. 13 regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 4, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at Keʻelikōlani Middle School and virtually via WebEx. Rebroadcasts of Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board No. 13 meetings are scheduled on ʻŌlelo channel 49 for every third Thursday at 9:00 p.m., as well as 9:00 a.m. on the fourth Saturday of each month. An archive of past meetings may be found on http://olelo.org/olelonet/ by searching on <Downtown>.

11. ADJOURNMENT

A mailing list is maintained for interested persons and agencies to receive this board’s agenda and minutes. Additions, corrections, and deletions to the mailing list may be directed to the Neighborhood Commission Office (NCO) at Kapālama Hale, 925 Dillingham Boulevard, Suite 160, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96817, by telephone on (808) 768-3710, fax (808) 768-3711, or e-mailing nco@honolulu.gov. Agenda documents and minutes are also available online at https://www8.honolulu.gov/nco/boards/.

All written testimony must be received in the Neighborhood Commission Office 48 hours prior to the meeting. If within 48 hours of the meeting, written and/or oral testimony may be submitted directly to the Board at the meeting. If submitting written testimony, please note the Board and agenda item(s) your testimony concerns. Send to: Neighborhood Commission Office, 925 Dillingham Boulevard, Suite 160, Honolulu, HI 96817, fax (808) 768-3711, or email nbtestimony@honolulu.gov.

If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability or an interpreter for a language other than English, please call the Neighborhood Commission Office at (808) 768-3710 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. or send an email to nco@honolulu.gov at least three (3) business days before the scheduled meeting. It may not be possible to fulfill requests received after this date.

DRAFT INITIAL CONVENING MEETING WRITTEN SUMMARY FOR VIDEO RECORD
TUESDAY, JULY 1, 2025 at 6:00 P.M.
PRINCESS RUTH KE‘ELIKŌLANI MIDDLE SCHOOL LIBRARY – 1302 QUEEN EMMA STREET, HONOLULU, HI 96813
AND VIA WEBEX TELECONFERENCING

Video recording of this meeting can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyT6Odazd1I

Reports & other meeting materials can be found at:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1F4DdI9R8Er12TNf6Bl-yb4p4EW0-68vu

1. CALL TO ORDER – [0:00:01]

Chair pro tem Ernest Caravalho called the Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board No. 13 meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Quorum was established with seven (7) members present. Note: This nine-member Board requires five (5) members to establish quorum and to take official Board action.

Members Present: Robert Armstrong, Ernest Caravalho, Sean Fitzsimmons (arrived 6:08 p.m.), Ross Isokane, Kevin Lye, Lori McCarney, Dan Mestas, and Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock.

Members Absent: Nicole Shintani.

Guests: Sergeant L. Freeman (Honolulu Police Department); Nathan Serota (Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation); Chris Fong (Tradewind Capital); Senator Karl Rhoads (State Senate District 13); Keara Kilakalua-Aguiar, Susan Carol, Rick Keene, Lindsay C., Mike Buck, Doug Pyle, Deborah King (Residents); Camilia Epa Gomes (Neighborhood Commission Office). Note: Name was not included if not legible. There were 11 total attendees.

2. INITIAL CONVENING BUSINESS – [0:01:00]

Board vote on election of officers for annual period from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 – [0:01:01]: Chair pro tem Caravalho explained how Section Two on the agenda will be conducted.

Election of Board Officers – Chair – [0:01:32]: Isokane nominated Ernest Caravalho for Chair. Hearing no other nominations, the Board conducted a roll-call vote. The Board elected Ernest Caravalho as Chair; 6-0-1 (Caravalho: Armstrong, Isokane, McCarney, Mestas, Shubert-Kwock, Caravalho; Nay: None; Abstain: Lye) – [0:03:09].

Election of Board Officers – Vice Chair – [0:03:18]: There were no nominations at this time.

Election of Board Officers – Secretary – [0:03:29]: Shubert-Kwock nominated Ross Isokane for Secretary. Hearing no other nominations, the Board conducted a roll-call vote. The Board elected Ross Isokane as Secretary; 5-0-2 (Isokane: Isokane, McCarney, Mestas, Shubert-Kwock, Caravalho; Nay: None; Abstain: Armstrong, Lye) – [0:04:37].

Election of Board Officers – Treasurer – [0:04:44]: Isokane nominated Lori McCarney for Treasurer. Hearing no other nominations, the Board conducted a roll-call vote. The Board elected Lori McCarney as Treasurer; 6-0-1 (McCarney: Isokane, Lye, McCarney, Mestas, Shubert-Kwock, Caravalho; Nay: None; Abstain: Armstrong) – [0:06:14]

Board vote on approval of board rules for the new term on board/community inquiries – [0:06:16]: Chair Caravalho shared his proposed board rules for the new term.
• Proposed Board Rules: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H0FgpkEouJKODsDkjvyINGfhwWLgvevI/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=111917663458444584436&rtpof=true&sd=true

Questions, comments and concerns followed – [0:07:11]

Member Fitzsimmons joined the meeting at 6:08 p.m.; 8 members present.

[0:10:21] – Isokane MOVED and McCarney SECONDED to adopt the approval of board rules for the new term as proposed by Chair Caravalho. Further discussion followed. Hearing no further discussion, the Board conducted a roll-call vote. The motion was ADOPTED; 7-1-0 (Aye: Armstrong, Fitzsimmons, Isokane, McCarney, Mestas, Shubert-Kwock, Caravalho; Nay: Lye; Abstain: None) – [0:12:52]

Questions, comments and concerns followed – [0:13:15]

[0:13:34] – Isokane MOVED and McCarney SECONDED to return to agenda item 2.1 for the election of the vice chair. Hearing no objection, the motion was ADOPTED; 8-0-0 (Aye: Armstrong, Fitzsimmons, Isokane, Lye, McCarney, Mestas, Shubert-Kwock, Caravalho; Nay: None; Abstain: None) – [0:13:42]

Election of Board Officers – Vice Chair – [0:13:43]: Caravalho nominated Sean Fitzsimmons for Vice Chair. Hearing no other nominations, the Board conducted a roll-call vote. The Board elected Sean Fitzsimmons as Vice Chair; 8-0-0 (Fitzsimmons: Armstrong, Fitzsimmons, Isokane, Lye, McCarney, Mestas, Shubert-Kwock, Caravalho; Nay: None; Abstain: None) – [0:14:32]

3. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS – [0:14:40]

Honolulu Fire Department – [0:14:45]: No representative at this time.

Honolulu Police Department – [0:14:55]: Sergeant Freeman provided the crime statistics for June 2025.

Questions, comments and concerns followed – [0:15:53]

Member Fitzsimmons left the meeting at 6:28 p.m.; 7 members present.

4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – [0:31:05]

Board Vote to Approve NCO Draft Regular Meeting Written Summary for Video Record (Thursday, June 5, 2025) – [0:31:10]:

[0:32:54] – Chair Caravalho called for a roll-call vote to approve the minutes as written for May 2025. Further discussion followed. A roll-call vote was conducted. The motion was ADOPTED; 5-1-1 (Aye: Armstrong, Isokane, McCarney, Shubert-Kwock, Caravalho; Nay: Lye; Abstain: Mestas) – [0:33:37]

5. PRESENTATIONS – [0:33:53]

Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation: Dog friendly park proposal and ask for community feedback (suggestions, questions, and recommendations) – [0:33:55]: Nathan Serota was present to inform the Board that the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is launching a community-driven initiative to expand dog-friendly access in City parks across O‘ahu. Currently, only a small fraction of the 308 parks allows leashed or off-leash dogs. To address this, DPR is seeking public input—especially from Neighborhood Boards—to help determine which parks should allow leashed dogs. An online map has been provided to facilitate this discussion. Mr. Serota also addresses concerns about irresponsible pet ownership and dangerous dogs, noting new state legislation (Act 224) that enforces stricter penalties starting July 2025. Additionally, DPR is working to install dog waste bag dispensers and signage to promote responsible pet care.
• Dog Friendly Parks Proposal Letter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yX4syo427mzVUSekOdFjvNHMFJ-ibE77/view?usp=drive_link
• City and County of Honolulu News Release: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mHSfZPnuz3w0g5P7uTTcdRk_kyyb5VbO/view?usp=drive_link
• Honolulu Parks and Outdoor Recreation Online Map: https://bit.ly/OahuParkMap

Questions, comments and concerns followed – [0:38:41]

Tradewind Capital: Update on process and plan to introduce a Honolulu City Council bill to adopt an ordinance (in Revised Ordinances of Honolulu) to create the Downtown Business Improvement District – [0:53:00]: Chris Fong from Tradewind Capital updated the board on plans to create a Downtown Honolulu Business Improvement District (BID). He shared that, following strong landowner support from a panel meeting held on January 15, 2025, a City Council bill that will be introduced through Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam will soon be introduced to establish the BID on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, with the goal of implementation set forth for the 2026 tax year (beginning July 2026). Management discussions are ongoing with Block by Block, a national BID management company already active in Waikiki. The plan is to expand the current Fort Street Mall BID rather than create an entirely new entity. Existing bylaws and board will be built upon, with added board members for new boundaries. Funding will come from modest assessments on commercial properties (government and residential properties are exempt), with all monies reinvested in the district for improvements. The BID will be reviewed every five years for possible renewal.
• Presentation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10JIZ17Ri1p0l4Rsd4wLd2DIu8gHrf1a6/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns followed – [0:59:04]

6. PUBLIC CONCERNS – [1:05:14]

Noise Disturbance near Kukui Plaza – [1:05:40]: Doug Pyle (Kukui Plaza Resident) addressed the board to express ongoing concerns about safety in his neighborhood, including vice crimes, homelessness, and drug use. He highlighted that much of this negative activity centers around the nearby Safeway and CVS property. Doug appreciated recent responsiveness from CVS management and noted their new security measures. While he suggested visible, in-person security (which other groups have found effective), CVS instead installed speakers and cameras. While these seem to reduce some problems, a new issue has emerged: at night, the speaker announcements are so loud that, even with windows closed, Doug measured noise inside his apartment at 55 decibels—equivalent to someone speaking in his living room. He has repeatedly asked CVS to lower the volume, and sometimes they comply, but it occasionally returns to loud levels. Mr. Pyle’s main question was whether there is any regulation covering such nighttime noise and requested the board’s assistance in addressing the sound issue with CVS—emphasizing he doesn’t want to remove the security measures, just to reduce their impact on residents.

Member Shubert-Kwock left the meeting at 7:06 p.m.; 6 members present.

Questions, comments and concerns followed – [1:07:57]

Request for Public Restrooms Update in Chinatown – [1:08:20]: Deborah King (Honolulu Park Place Resident) inquired if there were any updates regarding public restrooms in Chinatown.

Questions, comments and concerns followed – [1:08:30]

7. CHAIR’S REPORT ON UPCOMING EVENTS AND INITIATIVES – [1:10:29]

Information related to 4th of July holiday weekend and future events – [1:10:33]: Chair Caravalho wished everyone a safe 4th of July and informed everyone on the sanctioned firework shows that will take place in Waikiki, Kailua, and Pearl Harbor.

Questions, comments and concerns followed – [1:11:00]

8. ANNOUNCEMENTS – [1:11:38]

The next Downtown–Chinatown Neighborhood Board No.13 regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 7, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at Keʻelikōlani Middle School and virtually via WebEx.

Rebroadcasts of Downtown–Chinatown Neighborhood Board No.13 meetings are scheduled on ʻŌlelo channel 49 for every third Thursday at 9:00 p.m., as well as 9:00 a.m. on the fourth Saturday of each month. An archive of past meetings may be found on http://olelo.org/olelonet/ by searching in archives <Downtown Chinatown>.

9. ADJOURNMENT – [1:12:16]: The meeting was adjourned at 7:13 p.m.

Submitted by: Camilia Epa Gomes, Neighborhood Assistant, NCO
Reviewed by: Dylan Buck, Community Relations Specialist, NCO
Finalized by: Ross Isokane, Secretary, Neighborhood Board No.13

To view agenda and minutes, visit our board website.

Event shows physical location; however, other options of participation may also include WebEx and phone.  If available, instructions for WebEx and phone can be found at the top of the agenda.